Dillon uses basketball to highlight union issue

With the NCAA basketball championships and both of the University of Connecticut teams on her mind, state Rep. Pat Dillon, D-New Haven, said she wants to get rid of any state law that would make it difficult for student athletes to unionize.

Citing the National Labor Relations Board ruling by a regional director in favor of allowing Northwestern football players to form a union, Dillon said she wants to make sure that a similar opportunity is available to Connecticut athletes.

“It appears that state law may be an impediment,” Dillon said Monday. “NLRB ruled that athletes at private schools have the right to unionize, but said state labor laws may prohibit public school students from organizing. I am prepared to file legislation to make sure athletes at both public and private schools are on equal footing.”

She said athletes should be able to make a choice about joining a union and the state “has an obligation to remove any barriers.”